brown



Nov. 2 1926. 1,605,890

c. F. BROWN WORKHOLDER FOR LAWN MOWER SHARPENERS Filed Dec. 21, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 O v o I, H

v i W l i 55 I:

ATTQRNEY Nov. 2,1926. 1,605,890

C. F. BROWN WORKHOLDER FOR LAWN MOWER SHARPENERS Filed Dec- 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w @i p $9 115 WITN E8858 ATTOR N EY earner CHAIELLES FRANCISCO BROWN, GREENEVILLE, TENNESSEE.

Application filed December 21, 1923.

This invention has reference to a work holder for use in connection with a lawn mower sharpener of the type shown in my fomer Patent, l'lumber 15428519, issued reh 13, 1923, and constitutes an improve ment over the structure disclosed therein.

In this type of Sharpeners, the spiral blade supporting means are also provided with suitable devices by which the blade may be ad usted in the direction of the grinder to insure pro aer contact. therewith, and alsotangentially in order to obtain the proper bevel.

The general object of the present invention is to provide improved means for adiustably supporting the reel so as to obtain the proper position of the blades with respect to the grinding wheel, and in its preferred form this includes means for selec tively adjusting either end of the supporting board laterally, as may be necessary to more the proper contact of the grindingwheel with the blade throughout the grind mg operation.

The structural details of the invention and its mode of operation will be more specifically described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred embodiment thereof.

in the drawings:

Figured is an end elevation of the invention shown in operative relation to the grinding mechanism.

Figure 2 is plan view of the invention.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the supboard, and the mechanism for ad jllSLlIlg the same'laterally.

Figure d is a detail" sectional view taken on the line 4 1 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2. Figure 6 is a detailperspect'ive view of a portion ofthe ad-justing mechanism.

As shown in the drawings, the sharpenserial No. 681,994.

ing mechanism as well as the mechanism for supporting the lawn mower, or cutting blades thereof, are supported by a suitable base 10, provided on its upper face with parallel tracks 11 on which a carriage 12 is slidably supported. Secured to the carriage 12 is a pedestal 13 forming a bearing for a drive shaft 1 1, which is operatively conneeted by suitable gearing 15 to a forwardly extending shaft 16, whichcarries a bevelled grinding wheel 17. The mechanism for operating the grinder may be the same as that shown in the patent above referred to.

The frame on which the work is carried comprises suitable parallel bars or rods 18 secured to the base 10, and extending forwardly therefrom in a horizontal direction and havingtheir outer ends suitably braced, as by the rearwardly and downwardly e1:- ten'ding brace bars 19. Garried by the bars 18 is a work supporting board consisting of a pair of strips 20, of wood or any other suitable material, connected at their ends by straps 21 and 22 in spaced parallel relation, so as to form a longitudinal slot 28 between the two strips. An eye 24 is slidably mounted on each ofthe bars 18, and has a shank 25 extending upwardly into the slot 23 and receiving the threaded end ofa set screw 26, which passes through a retaining strap 27 and retains the board 20 in contact with the bar 18. A pair of rock shafts 28 and 29 are mounted in grooves in the undersides of the respective strips 20, one of the shafts, as 28, terminating near one of the bars 18, and being retained by one of the straps 21 and the strap 30,as shownin Fig ure 3, while the other shaft 29 extends to a point near the other bar 18, and is retained in the groove by one of the straps 21 and a similar strap 31. The shaft 28, near its inner end, has a downwardly extending crank arm 32, which is pivotally connected with the ll-shaped end of a link 34. The other end of the link being pivota-lly connected to a block 35, which is adjustably secured to the bar 18 by means of a set screw 36, or equivalent means. The outer end of the reel: shaft 28 is provided with an actuating handle 3?. The rock shaft 29 is similarly provided at its inner end with a crank arm 38 pivotally connected to the U-shaped end 89 of link 40, the other end of which is connected to a block 41 secured to the bar 18'by a set screw 42 or the like; The outer end of therock shaft 29 is provided with an for vertical adjustment the rods 55,

actuating handle 13. Thus, it will be seen that by rocking the shaft 28 in one dire ction, the adjacent end of the board 20 is carried toward the right, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5, while by-rocking the shaft 28 in the opposite direction, the adjacent end of the board is carried toward the left, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2. Siinie larly, by rocking the shaft 29 in one direction by means of its actuating handle a3, the remote end of the board 20 is carried toward the right, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2, and by rocking the shaft 29 in the opposite direction, the remote end of the board will be carried toward the left.

For the purpose of supporting the lawn mower cutting blades in contact with the grinding wheel 17, a bracket 44 is supported by the board 20. This bracket is provided with an elongated slot 45, so that it has a wide range of lateral adjustment on the clamping bolt 46, which extends through the slot 23 and clamps the bracket 44 to the board 20 in any position of adjustment. A block 47 is mounted for angular adjustment in the outer end of the bracket 4% and supports the rod 418, which is vertically adjustable, and is provided at its upper end with an adjustable jaw 49 adapted to rotatably support the cutter wheel shaft 50.

A pair of similar brackets 51 extend from the opposite side of the board 20, and are provided with elongated slots 52 to permit lateral adjustment on the clamping bolts 53. These brackets 51 are provided with vertical sleeves 5a, in which are supported rovided at their upper ends with adjustable jaws 56 for receiving the roller 57 of the lawn mower. Rearwardly extending sup-. porting bars 58 may also be provided to which are pivoted the rear ends of levers 59, having an intermediate pivotal connection, as at (30, to the lower ends of the vertical rods and extending forwardly to provide convenient handles 61, by means of which the vertical movement of the rods 55 may be effected.

d hen placing the lawn mower in position for grinding the cutting reel blades, the handle is removed and the roller placed between the jaws 56, while the cutting reel is supported by the jaw 4.9. The rods 48 and 55 are then adjusted to bring the cutting blade into proper relation to the grinding wheel 17, Supposing the carriage 12 Starts. at the left hand end of the blade, and is moved slowly toward the right by the movement of the carriage 12, if the grinding wheel 17 cuts too deep, the lever 13 may be pulled up to adjust the left hand end of the board 20 away from the wheel 17, or toward a the dotted line position shown in Figure 2. If the wheel does not cut deep enough, the handle e3 may be depressed. After the grinding wheel passes the center of? the blade, the lever 37 should be manipulated inorder to adjust the blade toward or away from the wheel 17, moving the lever downwardly to adjust the blade away from the wheel, and pulling up on the lever to adjust the blade toward the grinding wheel. Thus, it is possible to grind the blade accurately throughout its length and to effect a perfect adjustment of its position relatively to the grinding wheel, while the grinding operation is being carried on.

While I have shown and described in considerable detail the structure of the invention, in the form which is at present preferred, it is to be understood that this is merely illustrative, and that various modifications may be made therein within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the salient features of the invention.

What is claimed is: i

1. In a sharpening device, the combination of slidably mounted means for supporting a lawn mower cutter in contact with a grinding element, a pair of rock shafts carried by said supporting means and selec tively operable from one end thereof, a relatively iii-Zed base, and means. connecting the respective shafts to opposite ends of said base so as to swing either end of said supporting means relatively to the base when the corresponding shaft is rocked, thereby carrying the cutter toward or away from the grinding element.

2. In a sharpening device, the combination of a base having a plurality of bars projecting horizontally and laterally therefrom, a work support resting on said bars and slidable lengthwise of said bars and having means for supporting a lawn mower blade in position to be ground. and means including a pair of rock hafts carried by said work support and operatively connected respectively to opposite ends of said base so as to swing either end of the support laterally to *arry the corresponding end of the blade toward or away from the grinding element.

3. In a sharpenin device, the combination of a base having a plurality of horizontally projecting bars, a work support resting on said bars and movable lengthwise thereof and having means for supporting a lawn mower blade in position to be ground. and means carried by said work support and connected with the respective bars and ope able selectively to swing either end of said work support along the adjacent bar to carry the blade toward or away from the grinding element.

' 4. In a sharpening device, the combination but permitting lateral movement thereof,

a pair of rock shafts journaled on the neeaseo rside of said support and extending a tudinally thereof, each of said rock shafts having a crank arm extending radially thereof, a link pivotally connected at one end to the crank arm, and a block secured to the base and pivotally connected to the other end of the link, the crank arms of the respective shafts being atopposite ends of the base, whereby either end of the work support may be adjusted laterally by locking the corresponding shaft.

5. In a sharpening device, the comliuination of base having a pl reality of horiy projecting bars, a work support extendin "transversely of the bars, means for ning said support in contact with the bars but permitting horizontal morement, rockable means carried by said support and having a link connection with a fixed member, and operable to swing one end of the support lengthwise of the adjacent bar.

6. In a work supporting device for lawn mower sharpeners, the combination of bate having a pair of horizontally projecting bars, a board resting transversely on said bars and having a central longitudinal slot, an eye slidably mounted on each bar, means connected with said eyes for holding the board in cont-act with the bars, and means secured to each bar and having a movable connection with the board for positively adjusting the respective ends of the board laterally.

7. In a work support for lawn mower sharpeners, the combination of a base having a pair of horizontally projecting bars, a board restingtransversely on said bars, means for holding the board in contact with said bars but permitting lateral movement thereof, a pair of rock shafts supported underneath the board and extending longitudinally thereof, each of said rock shafts having a crank arm adjacent the respective bars, a link pivotally connected at one end to the crank arm, and a block secured to the adjacent bar and pivotally connected to the other end of the link, whereby the rocking of either shaft adjusts the corresponding end of the board laterally.

8. In a work support for lawn mower sharpener-s, the combination of a base having a pair of horizontally projecting bars, a board resting transversely on said bars, means for holding the board in contact with the bars but permitting lateral movement thereof, a pair of rock shafts supported in grooves on the underside of the board and extending longitudinally from one end thereof, each rock shaft having a crank arm adjacent a respective bar, a link pivotally connected at one end to the crank arm, a block adjustably' secured to the adjacent bar and pivotally connected to the other end of the link, and actuating arms secured to the 7 'slidably mounted on each bar, meant c outer ends of the respective rock shafts ad-- j acent the end of the board.

9. In a work support for lawn mower Sharpeners, the combination of a base haw ing a pair of horizontally projecting bars, a board resting transversely on said d having a central longitudinal slot an nected with said eyes for holdi t in contact with the bars, a pair of rock sea 1 supported on the underside of the board extending longitudinally thereof, each rock shaft having a depending crank a a link pivotally connected at one end to the crank arm, and a fixed block to which the other end of the link is pivotally connected.

10. In a work support for lawn mower sharpener-s, the combination of a base having a pair of horizontally projecting parallel bars, a board resting transverselyv on said bars and having a central longitudinal slot, on eye slidably mounted on each bar, means connected with the eyes for holding the board in contact with the bars, a pair of rock shafts supported in grooves on the underside of the board and extending longitudinally from one end thereof, each rock shaft having a crank arm adjacent a respective bar, a link pivotally connected at one end to the crank arm, a block adjustably secured to the adjacent bar and having a pivotal connection to the other end of the link, and ac tuating arms secured to the outer ends of the respective rock shafts adjacent the end of the board, whereby to rock said shafts and adjust the respective ends of the board laterally.

11. In a work supporting device for lawn mower Sharpeners, the combination of a relatively stationary base, a work support resting th reon, means constraining the work support against any except lateral move ment with respect to the base, a pair of parallel independently operable longitudinal rock shafts journaled on said work support, an arm projecting from each rock shaft, said arms being at opposite ends of the work support, and links connecting the extremities of the respective arms to the stationary base, whereby a rocking movement of either shaft will cause a lateral movement of the corresponding end of the work support.

12. In a work supporting device for lawn mower sharpeners, the combination of a base having a plurality of horizontally projecting bars, a work support resting, on said lib") bars and having means for supporting; a a

lawn mower blade in position to be ground, a pair of independent rock shafts carried by said work support, and means operatively connected to the respective shafts to swing; either end of said support laterally to carry the adjacent end of the blade toward or away from the grinding element when the corresponding shaft is rocked.

13. In a Work supporting device for lawn mower Sharpeners, the combination of a base having a pair of horizontally projecting bars, a board resting transversely on said bars and having a central longitudinal slot, means slidable in said slot and connected with said board for holding the same in contact with the bars, and means secured to each bar and having a movable connection with the board for positively adjusting the respective ends of the board laterally.

14. In work support for lawn mower sharpencrs, the combination of a base having a pair of horizontally projecting bars, a

board resting transversely on said bars, means for holding the board in contact with said bars but permitting lateral movement thereof, a pair of rock shafts supported underneath the board and extending longitudinally thereof, means connecting each rock shaft with one of the said bars, whereby the rocking of either shaft adjusts the corresponding end of the board laterally.

In testimony, that I claim the "foregoing as my own, I have hereto aliixed my nature.

CHARLES FRANCISCO BR- WM 

